Christmas songs

Away in a Manger chords for guitar

Away in a Manger needs 4 chords in G: G, C, D7 and Am. Here it is bar by bar: press any chord to hear it, Play to go through the whole carol, and the Key menu to move it to suit your voice.

Tempo95

p · ↓′ · ↓′ · · Three beats to the bar: a bass note, then two strums.

Colours

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What each chord does in its key. Press a chord to hear it and read more.

Away in a Manger

3/4, three beats a bar · 16 bars

Chord chart The chords of G major ›

Away in a Manger, 16 bars. Press a chord to hear it; Play goes through the whole carol.

The chords

Press a chord to hear it, or its name for every way to play it.

G

FamousStandard

I

R3RGBDGBG

C

Standard

IV

R3RCEGCE

D7

Standard

V7

5♭73DACF♯

Am

Standard

ii

5R♭3AEACE

How to play it

  • The strum. It is a waltz, three beats to the bar: strum down on 1, then down-up on 2 and 3, or play the bass note then two strums (Play uses the waltz pattern). Start slow, around 76 beats a minute, and change chord on the first beat of the bar.
  • The first note. The tune starts just before the first bar, on a pickup: count in and come in with the first chord on beat 1.
  • Too low or too high to sing? Change the key above. Or keep these shapes and put a capo on: two frets up raises the song a whole step (the capo chart works it out).
  • A new chord? Press its card for every way to play it, or start from the beginner chords.

About the carol

This is the American tune Mueller, by James Ramsey Murray, first printed in 1887 in Cincinnati, USA, in his Dainty Songs for Little Lads and Lasses as Luther's Cradle Hymn; the anonymous American words appeared in the 1880s. (William J. Kirkpatrick wrote a different tune, Cradle Song, in 1895, which is the one usual in Britain.) (source)

Questions

What chords are in Away in a Manger?

In G: G, C, D7 and Am.

What key is Away in a Manger in?

It is sung in many keys. On guitar G is the easiest, with open chords; use the Key menu for any other.

What strumming pattern does Away in a Manger use?

It is a waltz, three beats to the bar: strum down on 1, then down-up on 2 and 3, or play the bass note then two strums (Play uses the waltz pattern).

Sources

The chords were checked against these, bar by bar; where they differ, this page gives the version most beginner sheets agree on.

More Christmas songs

Silent NightJingle BellsWe Wish You a Merry ChristmasDeck the HallsO Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)Joy to the WorldHark! The Herald Angels SingO Come, All Ye FaithfulThe First NoelGod Rest Ye Merry GentlemenGood King WenceslasWe Three KingsO Little Town of BethlehemJolly Old Saint NicholasUp on the HousetopAngels We Have Heard on HighAuld Lang SyneAll Christmas songs